Game ID: 22500976
Minnesota Timberwolves @ Oklahoma City Thunder
Sunday, March 15, 2026 at 1:00 PM ET
Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
OKC 23 24 33 36 116MIN 22 31 23 27 103
MIN @ OKC ScoutingMIN @ OKC Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
OKC availability going into 3/04 · back-to-backOUT Jal. Williams missed 8 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Mitchell missed 18 since 1/23, out tonight
OUT Carlson missed 3 since 2/27, out tonight
BACK Gilgeous-Alexande back 2/27 after 9, 34 min since (100% of 34)
NEW Wallace 26 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW J. Williams 19 to 26 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 3/07 · 2 days' restOUT Jal. Williams missed 9 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Mitchell missed 19 since 1/23, out tonight
OUT Sandfort missed 2 since 3/03, out tonight
OUT Carlson missed 4 since 2/27, out tonight
BACK Gilgeous-Alexande back 2/27 after 9, 34 min since (102% of 34)
NEW J. Williams 19 to 26 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 3/09 · 1 day's restOUT Jal. Williams missed 10 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Mitchell missed 20 since 1/23, returns tonight: 29 min (112% of 26)
OUT Sandfort missed 3 since 3/03, out tonight
OUT Carlson missed 5 since 2/27, out tonight
BACK Gilgeous-Alexande back 2/27 after 9, 34 min since (102% of 34)
NEW Joe 20 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW J. Williams 19 to 26 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 3/12 · 2 days' restOUT Holmgren missed 2 since 3/07, returns tonight: 28 min (98% of 29)
OUT Jal. Williams missed 11 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Hartenstein missed 2 since 3/07, out tonight
OUT Caruso missed 2 since 3/07, returns tonight: 23 min (118% of 19)
OUT Sandfort missed 4 since 3/03, out tonight
OUT Carlson missed 6 since 2/27, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 3/09 after 20, 29 min since (112% of 26)
NEW Joe 20 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW J. Williams 19 to 28 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 3/15 · 2 days' restOUT Jal. Williams missed 12 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Hartenstein missed 3 since 3/07, returns tonight: 21 min (85% of 24)
OUT Sandfort missed 5 since 3/03, out tonight
OUT Carlson missed 7 since 2/27, out tonight
BACK Holmgren back 3/12 after 2, 28 min since (98% of 29)
BACK Mitchell back 3/09 after 20, 30 min since (113% of 26)
BACK Caruso back 3/12 after 2, 23 min since (118% of 19)
NEW Joe 20 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW J. Williams 19 to 29 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 3/17 · 1 day's restOUT Jal. Williams missed 13 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Sandfort missed 6 since 3/03, out tonight
OUT K. Williams missed 2 since 3/12, out tonight
OUT Carlson missed 8 since 2/27, out tonight
BACK Holmgren back 3/12 after 2, 30 min since (104% of 29)
BACK Mitchell back 3/09 after 20, 29 min since (110% of 26)
BACK Hartenstein back 3/15 after 3, 21 min since (85% of 24)
BACK Caruso back 3/12 after 2, 22 min since (116% of 19)
NEW Joe 20 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW J. Williams 19 to 26 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 3/18 · back-to-backOUT Jal. Williams missed 14 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Sandfort missed 7 since 3/03, returns tonight: 5 min (30% of 16)
OUT K. Williams missed 3 since 3/12, returns tonight: 21 min (151% of 14)
OUT Carlson missed 9 since 2/27, out tonight
BACK Holmgren back 3/12 after 2, 31 min since (107% of 29)
BACK Mitchell back 3/09 after 20, 29 min since (109% of 26)
BACK Hartenstein back 3/15 after 3, 18 min since (77% of 24)
BACK Caruso back 3/12 after 2, 23 min since (118% of 19)
NEW J. Williams 19 to 26 min over the last 5
OKC availability going into 3/21 · 2 days' restOUT Jal. Williams missed 15 since 2/12, out tonight
OUT Carlson missed 10 since 2/27, out tonight
BACK Holmgren back 3/12 after 2, 29 min since (99% of 29)
BACK Mitchell back 3/09 after 20, 28 min since (105% of 26)
BACK Hartenstein back 3/15 after 3, 18 min since (77% of 24)
BACK Caruso back 3/12 after 2, 18 min since (94% of 19)
BACK Sandfort back 3/18 after 7, 5 min since (30% of 16)
BACK K. Williams back 3/18 after 3, 21 min since (151% of 14)
OKC availability going into 3/23 · 1 day's restOUT Jal. Williams missed 16 since 2/12, returns tonight: 20 min (75% of 27)
OUT Dort missed 2 since 3/18, returns tonight: 22 min (85% of 26)
OUT Carlson missed 11 since 2/27, returns tonight: 2 min (16% of 12)
BACK Holmgren back 3/12 after 2, 29 min since (98% of 29)
BACK Hartenstein back 3/15 after 3, 21 min since (86% of 24)
BACK Caruso back 3/12 after 2, 19 min since (96% of 19)
BACK Sandfort back 3/18 after 7, 5 min since (30% of 16)
BACK K. Williams back 3/18 after 3, 17 min since (125% of 14)
MIN availability going into 3/07 · 1 day's restOUT Conley missed 3 since 3/01, out tonight
BACK Shannon Jr. back 3/05 after 2, 3 min since (23% of 14)
BACK Clark back 3/05 after 4, 3 min since (26% of 13)
MIN availability going into 3/10 · 2 days' restOUT Conley missed 4 since 3/01, out tonight
BACK Shannon Jr. back 3/05 after 2, 6 min since (40% of 14)
BACK Clark back 3/05 after 4, 4 min since (31% of 13)
MIN availability going into 3/11 · back-to-backOUT Conley missed 5 since 3/01, out tonight
BACK Shannon Jr. back 3/05 after 2, 6 min since (45% of 14)
BACK Clark back 3/05 after 4, 4 min since (31% of 13)
MIN availability going into 3/13 · 1 day's restOUT Conley missed 6 since 3/01, out tonight
BACK Shannon Jr. back 3/05 after 2, 8 min since (55% of 14)
BACK Clark back 3/05 after 4, 4 min since (35% of 13)
MIN availability going into 3/15 · 1 day's restOUT Conley missed 7 since 3/01, out tonight
BACK Shannon Jr. back 3/05 after 2, 8 min since (55% of 14)
BACK Clark back 3/05 after 4, 4 min since (35% of 13)
MIN availability going into 3/17 · 1 day's restOUT Conley missed 8 since 3/01, out tonight
MIN availability going into 3/18 · back-to-backOUT Conley missed 9 since 3/01, returns tonight: 7 min (39% of 18)
MIN availability going into 3/20 · 1 day's restOUT Edwards missed 2 since 3/17, out tonight
BACK Conley back 3/18 after 9, 7 min since (39% of 18)
MIN availability going into 3/22 · 1 day's restOUT Edwards missed 3 since 3/17, out tonight
OUT Reid missed 2 since 3/18, returns tonight: 26 min (98% of 26)
BACK Conley back 3/18 after 9, 7 min since (39% of 18)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 107, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 22 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 31 and Holmgren at 18 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Jal. Williams (12 straight), Hartenstein (3 straight), Sandfort (5 straight). 2 days' rest. Minnesota comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 123, shooting 50 percent and 33 from three, 27 free throws a game; Edwards at 30 and Reid at 14 a game. Without Conley (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 107 a night to Minnesota's 123 and the turnovers, Minnesota giving it away 14 times a game to OKC's 11. Call it OKC 118, Minnesota 110.
3/04 @ NYK 103-100 — OKC notes
OKC won 103-100. OKC shot 45% (33 of 73) to NYK's 42%, 16 of 42 from three. The glass went 38-48 against them. Holmgren led with 28 (11 of 19, 6 of 11 from three); Gilgeous-Alexander added 26, Dort 16. The hinge was Q2, 25-17: a lead of 2 became 10, and the lead reached 15. Dort was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
3/07 vs GSW 104-97 — OKC notes
OKC won 104-97. OKC shot 42% (33 of 78) to GSW's 41%, 15 of 42 from three, and went to the line 24 times to GSW's 18 — 23 points from the stripe to their 11. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 27 (6 of 15, 1 of 4 from three, 14 of 15 at the line); Joe added 18, K. Williams 13. The hinge was Q2, 33-26: a lead of 6 became 13. Barnhizer was the night's best plus/minus at +9.
3/09 vs DEN 129-126 — OKC notes
OKC won 129-126. OKC shot 51% (47 of 93) to DEN's 46%, 19 of 47 from three, and got to the line 21 times to DEN's 29. The glass went 37-56 against them. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 35 (14 of 21, 3 of 7 from three); J. Williams added 29, Mitchell 24. The hinge was Q2, 29-20: OKC came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 6. McCain was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
3/12 vs BOS 104-102 — OKC notes
OKC won 104-102. OKC shot 48% (40 of 84) to BOS's 40%, 11 of 44 from three. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 35 (13 of 18, 2 of 5 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Mitchell added 15, Holmgren 14. The hinge was Q4, 24-19: OKC came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 2. OKC trailed 56-59 at the half and won the second half 48-43.
3/15 vs MIN 116-103 — OKC notes
OKC won 116-103. OKC shot 42% (42 of 101) to MIN's 47%, 15 of 40 from three. OKC turned it over 7 times to MIN's 22. Holmgren led with 21 (9 of 13, 1 of 4 from three); Gilgeous-Alexander added 20, Joe 20. The hinge was Q3, 33-23: OKC came in trailing by 6 and left it ahead by 4, and the lead reached 18. OKC trailed 47-53 at the half and won the second half 69-50. Holmgren was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
3/17 @ ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Orlando comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 31 free throws a game; Banchero at 24 and Bane at 23 a game. Without Fra. Wagner (14 straight), Black (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 106, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 29 and Holmgren at 21 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Jal. Williams (13 straight), Sandfort (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Orlando has been plus-4 a night and OKC minus-8 and the line, where Orlando takes 31 free throws a game to OKC's 21. Call it OKC 115, Orlando 114, Orlando keeping it close.
3/18 @ BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 116, shooting 44 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Minott at 16 and Wolf at 12 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Sharpe (4 straight), Wilson (2 straight). One day's rest. OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 107, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 31 and Holmgren at 18 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Jal. Williams (14 straight), Sandfort (7 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the turnovers, Brooklyn giving it away 18 times a game to OKC's 9 and the defense, OKC allowing 107 a night to Brooklyn's 116. Call it OKC 114, Brooklyn 108.
3/21 @ WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 124, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Coulibaly at 21 and Young at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 12 a night. Without Reese (2 straight), George (9 straight), Black (4 straight). One day's rest. OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 106, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 30 and Holmgren at 16 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Jal. Williams (15 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 106 a night to Washington's 124 and the glass, where OKC has been minus-2 a night and Washington minus-12. Call it OKC 119, Washington 111.
3/23 @ PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 112, shooting 46 percent and 27 from three, 23 free throws a game; Grimes at 25 and Edgecombe at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Maxey (8 straight), George (24 straight), Embiid (12 straight). One day's rest. OKC comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 103, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 31 and Holmgren at 17 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Jal. Williams (16 straight), Dort (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, OKC at 34 percent from three to Philadelphia's 27 and the defense, OKC allowing 103 a night to Philadelphia's 112. Call it OKC 114, Philadelphia 112, Philadelphia keeping it close.
3/07 vs ORL 92-119 — MIN notes
MIN lost 92-119. MIN shot 36% (30 of 84) to ORL's 46%, 9 of 40 from three. The glass went 37-58 against them. Edwards led with 34 (8 of 18, 5 of 9 from three, 13 of 14 at the line); Randle added 14, Reid 13. Q1 was theirs, 30-27, but the other 3 periods went 92-62 against them. McDaniels's -23 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/10 @ LAL 106-120 — MIN notes
MIN lost 106-120. MIN shot 46% (37 of 80) to LAL's 48%, 10 of 40 from three. MIN turned it over 11 times to LAL's 6. Edwards led with 14 (2 of 15, 1 of 10 from three, 9 of 10 at the line); Randle added 14, Reid 13. Q1 was theirs, 21-16, but the other 3 periods went 104-85 against them. DiVincenzo's -15 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/11 @ LAC 128-153 — MIN notes
MIN lost 128-153. MIN shot 60% (46 of 77) to LAC's 63%, 11 of 25 from three, and got to the line 29 times to LAC's 36. MIN turned it over 21 times to LAC's 10, and LAC turned those into 16 steals. Edwards led with 36 (11 of 17, 3 of 8 from three, 11 of 12 at the line); Reid added 18, McDaniels 11. Q2 was theirs, 38-36, the deficit cut from 11 to 9, but the other 3 periods went 117-90 against them. McDaniels's -40 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/13 @ GSW 127-117 — MIN notes
MIN won 127-117. MIN shot 56% (46 of 82) to GSW's 40%, 12 of 30 from three. MIN turned it over 16 times to GSW's 8, and GSW turned those into 8 steals. Edwards led with 42 (13 of 22, 4 of 9 from three, 12 of 12 at the line); Gobert added 18, McDaniels 15. The hinge was Q2, 38-20: a lead of 3 became 21, and the lead reached 25. DiVincenzo was the night's best plus/minus at +11.
3/15 @ OKC 103-116 — MIN notes
MIN lost 103-116. MIN shot 47% (36 of 77) to OKC's 42%, 15 of 33 from three. MIN turned it over 22 times to OKC's 7, and OKC turned those into 16 steals. Randle led with 32 (11 of 18, 3 of 5 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Edwards added 19, Dosunmu 18. Q2 was theirs, 31-24, turning a 1-point deficit into a 6-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 92-72 against them. Gobert's -23 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/17 vs PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 125, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 27 free throws a game; Edwards at 29 and Randle at 16 a game. Without Conley (8 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 24 free throws a game; Booker at 34 and Green at 28 a game. Without Brooks (11 straight), Williams (7 straight), Dunn (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Phoenix wins, on the road, and the game turns on the turnovers, Minnesota giving it away 16 times a game to Phoenix's 10 and the defense, Phoenix allowing 113 a night to Minnesota's 125. Call it Phoenix 116, Minnesota 115, Minnesota keeping it close.
3/18 vs UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 122, shooting 52 percent and 37 from three, 27 free throws a game; Edwards at 28 and Randle at 20 a game. Without Conley (9 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 121, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Sensabaugh at 24 and Williams at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Konchar (3 straight), Mykhailiuk (7 straight), Love (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-3 a night and Utah minus-4. Call it Minnesota 120, Utah 116, Utah keeping it close.
3/20 vs POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 120, shooting 54 percent and 42 from three, 27 free throws a game; Edwards at 32 and Randle at 21 a game. Without Edwards (2 straight). One day's rest. Portland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 108, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Avdija at 23 and Clingan at 17 a game. Without Sharpe (18 straight), Love (14 straight), Krejčí (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the defense, Portland allowing 108 a night to Minnesota's 120 and the arc, Minnesota at 42 percent from three to Portland's 36. Call it Minnesota 118, Portland 115, Portland keeping it close.
3/22 @ BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 105, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 23 free throws a game; Brown at 31 and Tatum at 20 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Vučević (7 straight), Walsh (4 straight). One day's rest. Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 111, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 27 free throws a game; Randle at 23 and Dosunmu at 18 a game. Without Edwards (3 straight), Reid (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-11 a night and Minnesota plus-2 and the arc, Minnesota at 40 percent from three to Boston's 32. Call it Boston 115, Minnesota 111, Minnesota keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
MINAD A. Dosunmu
AE A. Edwards
BH B. Hyland
DD D. DiVincenzo
JC J. Clark
JI J. Ingles
JM J. McDaniels
JR J. Randle
KA K. Anderson
NR N. Reid
RG R. Gobert
RZ R. Zikarsky
TS T. Shannon Jr.
OKCAC A. Caruso
AM A. Mitchell
AW A. Wiggins
CH C. Holmgren
CW C. Wallace
IH I. Hartenstein
IJ I. Joe
JM J. McCain
JW J. Williams
LD L. Dort
SG S. Gilgeous-Alexander
MIN/OKC the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Gilgeous-Alexander keeps record 20-point streak alive as Thunder win 8th straight, beat Timberwolves
OKLAHOMA CITY -- — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 20 points and 10 assists, and the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-103 on Sunday for their eighth straight win.
Gilgeous-Alexander barely extended his record streak of games with at least 20 points to 128. He had just 10 points heading into the fourth, and he re-entered the game with 7:10 left after resting.
He scored on a stepback against Anthony Edwards with 1:46 remaining and was fouled to reach 19 points. With the crowd standing and chanting “M-V-P!” he drained the free throw to keep the streak alive and push himself further past Wilt Chamberlain 's old mark of 126 .
Chet Holmgren had 21 points and nine rebounds and Isaiah Joe added 20 points for the Thunder, who improved to a league-best 53-15.
Julius Randle scored 32 points and Edwards added 19 for the Timberwolves.
The Thunder forced 22 turnovers while committing just seven. Oklahoma City attempted 101 shots while Minnesota tried 77.
Oklahoma City ran out to a 9-0 lead and held the Timberwolves scoreless for nearly three minutes at the start.
Minnesota recovered and led 53-47 at halftime. Gilgeous-Alexander scored just four points on 2-for-10 shooting before the break.
Minnesota pushed its lead to 68-59 midway through the third quarter before the Thunder rallied. A 3-pointer by Jaylin Williams that bounced before going in gave Oklahoma City a 78-73 edge, and the Thunder took an 80-76 lead into the fourth.
Oklahoma City took control early in the final period. Jared McCain caught a no-look, behind-the-back pass from Isaiah Hartenstein and drained a 3-pointer to give Oklahoma City a 91-80 lead. The two connected again, this time with Hartenstein's two-handed pass bouncing between his legs and behind him . McCain's 3 put the Thunder ahead 94-81.